Maxine J De La Cruz, MD
Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, Division of Cancer Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Palliative Care, Rehabilitation, and Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2000 | University of Philippines, Manila, PH, MD |
| 1995 | University of Philippines, Manila, PH, Biology, BS |
Postgraduate Training
| 2007-2009 | Clinical Fellowship, Palliative Care, Chief Fellow-Reseach Fellow, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2005-2007 | Clinical Fellowship, Geriatrics, Geriatric Chief Resident, State University of New York-Brooklyn, Brooklyn, New York |
| 2002-2005 | Clinical Residency, Internal Medicine, State University of New York-Brooklyn, Brooklyn, New York |
| 2000-2002 | Took Philippine Boards, Also completed USMLE Steps 1-2 and Clinical Skills Assessment, Application for Residency and Completion of Visa requirements for training, Philippine General Hospital, Manila |
| 1999-2000 | Clinical Internship, Phillippine General Hospital, Manila |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2011 | Texas Medical License |
| 2010 | Hospice and Palliative Medicine |
| 2009 | Geriatric Medicine |
| 2006 | Internal Medicine |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Member of the Faculty, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, 2022 - 2024
Associate Professor, Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2017 - 2022
Assistant Professor, Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2011 - 2017
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Assistant Professor, Geriatrics/Palliative, UT Health Science Center, Houston, TX, 2010 - 2011
Other Professional Positions
Core Faculty, Memorial Hermann, Internal Medicine Residency Program, Houston, TX, 2011 - 2011
Director, Geriatric Resource Nurse Program, Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, TX, 2010 - 2011
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Clinical Ethics Consultation Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - Present
Member, Clinical Effectiveness Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - 2019
Super User, EPIC One Connect, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015 - Present
Member, Psychosocial, Behavioral, and Health Services Research Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015 - 2018
Representative for Palliative Department, EHR Leadership, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015 - 2015
Member, Faculty Senate, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015 - 2018
Member, 2015 Updates in Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Intensive Physician Board Review Planning Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2014 - 2015
Honors & Awards
| 2010 | Scholarship Pen Award, University of the Philippines MSPS |
| 2009 | Young Investigator Award, Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer |
| 2000 | Outstanding Intern in Internal Medicine and Ophthalmology, Phillippine General Hospital |
| 1995 | Phi Sigma Honors Society |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2024. Strategies to treat Agitated Patients in the Palliative Care unit. Invited. 27th Supportive & Palliative Care Clinical and Research Symposium. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. Advances in Delirium Management. Conference. 26th Supportive Care & Palliative Care Clinical and Research Symposium. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2022. Pain Management in Cancer Patients. Invited. Sugar Land, Texas, US.
- 2021. Management of Agitated Delirium in an Older Cancer Patient. Conference. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine. Houston, TX, US.
- 2019. Telehealth in Palliative Care. Conference. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine. Houston, TX, US.
- 2019. Algorithm to Manage Agitated Delirium. Conference. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine. Houston, TX, US.
- 2017. Updates in Caring for Delirious Patients: Caregivers and Clinicians Perspective. Conference. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine. Houston, TX, US.
- 2015. (Moderator) Advances in the Understanding of Patient Experience of Delirium. Conference. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
- 2015. Management of Agitated Delirium. Conference. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
- 2015. Art of Gynecology Oncology-Hospice. Conference. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
- 2015. ECD and Pain Management. Conference. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
- 2015. Counting blessings everyday.... Living the experience of being part of the Palliative Care Team. Conference. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
- 2011. Management of Nutritional Issues in End-of-Care Life (Moderator). Conference. The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
- 2011. Complications of Hospitalization in the Elderly-Delirium in the Elderly Hospitalized Patients. Conference. The University of Texas- Houston Medical School. Houston, TX, US.
- 2010. Pain in the Elderly Patient. Conference. UT School of Nursing. Houston, TX, US.
- 2010. Cardiac Palliative Care. Conference. Cardiology Conference. Houston, TX, US.
- 2010. Falls in the Elderly Patient. Conference. Memorial Hermann Nursing Rounds. Houston, TX, US.
- 2010. Depression in the Elderly Patient. Conference. Memorial Hermann Nursing Rounds. Houston, TX, US.
- 2009. Psychological Distress in Palliative Care Patients. Conference. Harris County Hospital District. Houston, TX, US.
- 2009. Cardiac Palliative Care. Conference. Memorial Hermann Hospital. Houston, TX, US.
Regional Presentations
- 2015. Increased Symptom Expression Among Patients (PTS) with Delirium admitted to an Acute Palliative Care Unit (APCU) (Poster). Conference. 2015 Palliative Care in Oncology Symposium. Boston, MA, US.
- 2014. Lecture on Guideline for Pain Management. Conference. Citizens Medical Center. Victoria, TX, US.
- 2014. The Frequency, Characteristics and Outcomes among Cancer Patients with Delirium Admitted to an Acute Palliative Care Unit (APCU). Conference. Palliative Care in Oncology Symposium. Boston, MA, US.
International Presentations
- 2025. Traditional Chinese Medicine in Cancer Care. Invited. 6th International Congress on Palliative Care, GT.
- 2024. Delirium is Palliative Care. Invited. Stupor Mundi Conference. Palermo, IT.
- 2023. Delirium in Patients with cancer. Invited. 5th International Congress in Palliative Care in Guatemala, GT.
Formal Peers
- 2015. Facilitator, Texas Bus Rounds, Vitas Healthcare, Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine. Visiting. Houston, TX, US.
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Botta, L, Capocaccia, R, Bernasconi, A, Rossi, S, Galceran, J, Dal Maso, L, Lepage, C, Molinié, F, Bouvier, AM, Marcos-Gragera, R, Vener, C, Guevara, M, Murray, D, Ragusa, R, Gatta, G, Jooste, V, Hackl, M, Van Eycken, E, Van Damme, N, Valerianova, Z, Sekerija, M, Scoutellas, V, Demetriou, A, Dušek, L, Krejici, D, Storm, H, Mägi, M, Innos, K, Pitkäniemi, J, Velten, M, Troussard, X, Bouvier, AM, Jooste, V, Guizard, AV, Launoy, G, Dabakuyo Yonli, S, Maynadié, M, Woronoff, AS, Nousbaum, JB, Coureau, G, Monnereau, A, Baldi, I, Hammas, K, Tretarre, B, Colonna, M, Plouvier, S, D'Almeida, T, Molinié, F, Cowppli-Bony, A, De La Cruz, MG. The impact of cancer survivors' extra risk of noncancer mortality on net survival estimation. American journal of epidemiology 194(11):3316-3324, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40826891.
- Admane S, Kim MJ, Reddy A, Tang M, Chang YK, Shih KK, La Cruz MD, Cepeda SJ, Bruera E, Hui D. Performance of Three Conversational Artificial Intelligence Agents in Defining End-of-Life Care Terms. J Palliat Med 28(8):1102-1107, 2025. PMID: 40138176.
- Khan R, Tschanz J, La Cruz MD, Hui D, Urbauer D, Grouls A, Bruera E. Patient considerations of social media account management after death. Supportive Care in Cancer 32(10), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39352567.
- Bouvier, AM, Jooste, V, Lillini, R, Marcos-Gragera, R, Katalinic, A, Giorgi Rossi, P, Launoy, G, Bouvier, V, Guevara, M, Ardanaz, E, Rapiti Aylward, E, Innos, K, Rodriguez-Barranco, M, Sant, M, Van Eycken, L, Henau, K, Grozeva, T, Valerianova, Z, Innos, K, Mägi, M, Bouvier, V, Launoy, G, Nousbaum, JB, Bouvier, AM, Jooste, V, Babaev, V, Katalinic, A, Ólafsdóttir, EJ, Tryggvadóttir, L, Baili, P, Bonfarnuzzo, S, Moretti, G, Sant, M, Cirilli, C, Carrozzi, G, Spata, E, Tumino, R, Rossi, PG, Vicentini, M, Stracci, F, Bianconi, F, Contiero, P, Tagliabue, G, Kycler, W, Oko, M, Macek, P, Smok-Kalwat, J, Bielska-Lasota, M, Bento, MJ, De La Cruz, MG. Differences in survival and recurrence of colorectal cancer by stage across population-based European registries. International journal of cancer 155(5):807-815, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38577898.
- Chen J, de la Rosa A, Lai D, de la Cruz M, Zhukovsky DS, Revere L, Lairson D, Wermuth P, Hui D. A National Survey of Palliative Care Team Compositions. J Palliat Care 37(2):142-151, 2022. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34939878.
- de la Cruz M, Delgado-Guay MO. Financial Toxicity in People Living with Advanced Cancer: A New, Deadly, and Poorly Addressed Effect of Cancer and Necessary Treatment. Semin Oncol Nurs 37(4):151171, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34294500.
- Madden K, Reddy A, De La Cruz M, Chen M, Bruera E. Patterns of Storage, Use, and Disposal of Prescription Opioids by Young Adults with Cancer. J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol 10(2):234-239, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 32758046.
- de la Cruz M, Balankari VR, Baidoo J, Waletich JM, Delgado-Guay M, Reddy A, Wu J, Liu DD, Bruera E. Association between anti-cholinergic burden and delirium among advanced cancer patients referred to a palliative care consult service. Cancer.
Other Articles
- Kim MJ, Admane S, Chang YK, Shih KK, Reddy A, Tang M, La Cruz MD, Taylor TP, Bruera E, Hui D Chatbot Performance in Defining and Differentiating Palliative Care, Supportive Care, Hospice Care. J Pain Symptom Manage, 2024. PMID: 38219964.
Abstracts
- Hui D, De La Rosa A, Shelal Z, Maxwell JP, Hosain M, de la Cruz MJ, Vidal M, Reddy AS, Azhar A, Dev R, Tanco KC, Wong A, Heung Y, Delgado Guay M, Zhukovsky DS, Arthur JA, Reddy S, Yennu S, Bruera E. The Impact of a Web-Based Prognostic Intervention on Physicians' Prognostic Confidence. J Clin Oncol-ASCO Annual Conference 2021(15_Suppl):12106-12106. e-Pub 2021.
- de la Cruz M, Hui D, Frisbee-Hume S, Wilson A, Diabaj S, Nguyen T, Walker P, Delgado-Guay M, Vidal M, Zhukovsky DS, Epner DE, Sunkepally Reddy A, Tanco K, Williams J, Hall S, Liu DD, Hess KR, Amin SR, Breibart W, Bruera E. Lorazepam as an Adjuvant to Haloperidol for Agitated Delirium at the End-of-Life: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial. 2017 ASCO Annual Meeting 35(No. 15_suppl), 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Pimentel L, de la Cruz M, Wong A, Castro D, Bruera E. Snapshot of an outpatient supportive care center at a comprehensive cancer center. Palliative Care in Oncology Symposium 34(26_suppl.145). e-Pub 2017.
- de la Cruz M, Baidoo J, Balankari VR, Waletich-Flemming JM, Delgado-Guay M, Wu J, Liu DD, Bruera E. Association between anti-cholinergic burden and delirium among patients with advanced cancer referred to a palliative care consult service. Palliative Care in Oncology Symposium 34(26_suppl):213, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
- de la Cruz MG. The impact of an educational program on patient practices on safe use, storage, and disposal of opioids in a comprehensive cancer center. 2016 Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) 24(Suppl 1):S41. e-Pub 2016.
Book Chapters
- de la Cruz M, Tanco K. Geriatric Palliative Care. In: Textbook of Palliative and Supportive Care. 2nd edition, 961-968, 2016.
- De La Cruz M. Vitamin B12 Deficiency. In: Internal Medicine Issues in Palliative Cancer Care. Oxford University Press, 2015.
- De La Cruz M. Arthritis. In: Internal Medicine Issues in Palliative Cancer Care. Oxford University Press, 2015.
- De La Cruz M, Bruera E. Diagnosis and Treatment of Delirium. In: Palliative Care and Ethics: Common Ground and Cutting Edges. Oxford University Press, 124-135, 2014.
- Ramondetta L, De La Cruz M, Rodriguez EM. End of Life Care for Elderly Patients with Gynecologic Cancer. In: Management of Gynecological Cancers in Older Women-Management of Cancer in Older People. Springer-Verlag, 2013.
- De La Cruz M, Ramirez K. Anxiety and Depression in the Cancer Patient. In: Cancer: Rehabilitation Quick Reference Series. Demos Medical, 2013.
- De La Cruz M, Bruera E. Pharmacological Considerations in Palliative Care. In: Pharmacology of Pain. 1st. International Association for the Study of Pain, 2010.
- De La Cruz M, Bruera E. Opioid Side Effects and Management. In: Cancer Pain Assessment and Management. 2nd. Cambridge University Press, 2009.
- De La Cruz M, Elsayem A. Hospice. In: The MD Anderson Supportive and Palliative Care Handbook. 3rd. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2008.
- De La Cruz M, Elsayem A. Assessment of Pain and Other Symptoms. In: The MD Anderson Supportive and Palliative Care Handbook. 3rd. University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 2008.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified July 22, 2026